Stockholm Syndrome is alive and well in Florida.
I'm not certain how else the glowing editorial tributes to the now ex-Governor of Florida, John Ellis Bush, could otherwise be explained.
This Kidnapper of Paradise Lost held the state captive for eight years and apparently, the press identified with him as surely as Patty Hearst aligned herself with the Symbionese Liberation Army.
The Orlando Sentinel, writing an obvious love letter to Bush and the effect of his plague years on our state cited, "Bush dramatically changed the culture..." of our (Florida) government...".
Changed the culture.
Not only is that an interesting statement, it unwittingly belies the true nature of the beast known as J.E.B.
Cultural change is a form of organizational transformation, that is, radical and fundamental form of change. Cultural change involves changing the basic values, norms, beliefs, etc., among members (Floridians) of the organization (Florida) in order to improve organizational performance, i.e. the way that arrogant S.O.B. felt was in his best interest.
A Republican majority state legislature jammed the chloroformed cloth of change down our throats and forced Floridians to accept the Politics of the Bush by awarding the former governor legislative carte blanche.
If not for the Florida Supreme Court-without the Men and Women in Black-Bush and the Legislature would not have been checked. Period.
Of course, the Bush team felt their "governing" was undermined. The way I call it, the Court prevented full-fledged tyranny.
Let's take the Terri Schiavo incident as an example. The Courts locked that up, loud and clear.
The Orlando Sentinel writes, "although a proponent of less government, he (Bush) injected himself into the deathbed decision surrounding Terri Schiavo because of his religious beliefs."
That was it. No elaboration. Just candy-coating. The Sentinel fails to mention that Bush went for Michael Schiavo's jugular, all but accusing Terri's husband of contributing to her vegetative state.
Bush called on Charlie Crist-Florida's then attorney general and as of today, Florida's 44th governor-to investigate Michael Schiavo, on the speculation that he might have delayed in calling for emergency assistance the day of her collapse.
That's the tyranny part...the "my way or the highway" thinking of J.E.B.
This is just one example. I could wax poetic on and on and on and on about how the Florida press is obviously in such awe of the "Smart Bush" that each foible is sidestepped as a mere footnote in an otherwise successful "reign" as governor.
In fact, here's a link to really creative prose. (FLA Politics, 12/31/2006). Read between the adoring lines and somewhere therein lies the truth.
Perhaps the Florida press feels the good P.R. moves them to the front of the campaign bus should JB decide to run for Prez 2008. My hopes are the major players in the world of journalism deprogram these writer hacks before subjecting the rest of this country to a disease far worse than George.
Patty Hearst once said, ""I finally figured out what my crime was. I lived. Big mistake."
Florida lived through J.E.B.
In fact, with the Dark Prince officially out of office and exiled back to Miami, Floridians exhaled as a collective whole and I swear, the orange blossoms bloomed early.
The Jimmy Olsens of the print media are asked to do their job.
Report the news and stay out of the tribute game.